St. Anthony’s Feast: A Celebration of Faith and Art

St. Anthony of Padua Friary in Eastern Samar celebrated the feast of its patron saint on Tuesday, June 10, 2025—three days earlier than the traditional date of June 13. The adjustment was made to avoid conflict with celebrations in the town of Dolores, where three chapels also dedicated to St. Anthony had already scheduled their festivities for June 13.

The fiesta Mass was presided over by Fr. Philip Oliver Camponanes, parish priest of St. Peter of Alcantara in Oras, Eastern Samar. He was joined by the friars of the community and Fr. Edwin Lanuevo, parish priest of St. Joachim Parish in Dolores. The celebration was preceded by a novena in honor of St. Anthony.

In preparation for the event, the friary chapel underwent renovations in May. Local painters and artists were commissioned to repaint the chapel and add a new mural on the sanctuary wall, completed just in time for the novena and feast.